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Europe/Russia
Austria | Imagine this: “Brau Union’s new Villach City Brewery opened on 6 May right in the heart of downtown and is breathing new life into the region’s brewing culture. After 12 months of construction, up to 7,000 hl of beer will be produced here each year,” media gushed. No mention, though, that the small brewery is replacing a 320,000 hl brewery on the same site, which Heineken’s Austrian subsidiary Brau Union had shuttered in 2024.
Europe/Russia
Ukraine | Andriy Sadovyi, mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, told media on 5 May that his day did not begin not with coffee, but with the opening of a new canning line at Carlsberg’s brewery. He mentioned the figure of UAH 610 million (EUR 12 million), which he said is a significant contribution to the development of Lviv’s economy.
Europe/Russia
Germany | The allocation of beer tents at the Munich Oktoberfest is now a matter for the courts. The Munich Administrative Court has confirmed an urgent motion filed by restaurateur Alexander Egger on 12 May. He is challenging the rejection by the city council of his application for the “Schützenlisl” tent at the Old Wiesn, an Oktoberfest spin-off. His motion also calls the entire tent allocation process into question, which, if successful, could derail preparations for this year’s Octoberfest (19 September – 4 October).
Europe/Russia
Germany | The Haus Cramer Group, owner of Warsteiner brewery, is responding to the crisis in the German beer market by significantly trimming back its brewing capacity, media reported on 7 May. As part of the plan, the Herford brewery will close in August, while the group is seeking a buyer for its brewery in Paderborn.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Approximately two British pubs closed per day in the first quarter of 2026, according to figures by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), released on 5 May. A total of 161 pubs shuttered across England, Scotland and Wales, equating to the loss of around 2,400 jobs. The demise of BrewDog would have added 38 bars alone.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Premier Inn owner Whitbread is to cut about 3,800 jobs in the UK and Ireland, and shut its remaining 197 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants in yet another pivot in its business strategy, media reported on 30 April.
Europe/Russia
France | According to rumour, the banking group Crédit Mutuel has won the tender to acquire the site of the former Heineken brewery “Esperance” (“Hope”) in Schiltigheim, a community in the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg. The 1.5 million hl brewery, which was put up for sale in 2022 and ceased production in December 2025 with the loss of 220 jobs, spans 13 hectares of land near the town centre.
Europe/Russia
France | After 33 days, US drinks group Brown-Forman said on 28 April that it ended talks with France’s Pernod Ricard over a possible business combination, after the two spirits companies failed to reach mutually agreeable terms. The companies first confirmed the discussions on March 26, while also warning there was no guarantee a deal would happen.
Europe/Russia
Belgium | AB-InBev, on 6 May, posted first quarter sales and profits well above forecasts, selling more drinks for the first time in years and contrasting with a gloomier mood at key rival Heineken.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Guinness brewer Diageo, on 6 May, beat third-quarter sales forecasts, posting 0.3 percent growth in net sales, helped by strong Guinness demand in Ireland and the UK and stocking up in Latin America and the Caribbean ahead of the soccer World Cup.
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BRAUWELT on tour
Most Read
BRAUWELT on tour
